Modeste is a timid watchman at an automobile factory which is run with an iron hand by its owner, Roger Drapeau. One evening, Modeste leaves his post to visit a fairground, where he meets the attractive Aline. Having glimpsed his employer, Modeste makes a hasty return to the factory. When Monsieur Drapeau appears, Modeste explains that it must have been his twin brother that his boss saw at the fairground, a nasty piece of work named Raphaël. Not only does Drapeau fail to see through this unconvincing lie, but it gives him an idea to win a marathon car race. Modeste and Raphaël will take alternate turns in the stages of the race and, because they are so similar, no one will be any the wiser. Unable to admit that he has no brother but afraid of losing his job, Modeste allows himself to be coerced into taking part in the race...
Acting
Fernandel's elastic face doing double duty as coward and con artist.
Direction
Christian-Jaque keeps the lies spinning like plates in a hurricane.
Director
Christian-Jaque
Fernandel
Modeste Manosque
Armand Bernard
Roger Drapeau
Madeleine Sologne
Elisabeth
Pierre Stéphen
Maxime Corner
Léon Belières
le président Réginald Brick
Jean Témerson
Mr. Chromo (as Témerson)
René Génin
Roméo
Fred Pasquali
le maître d'hôtel
Georges Térof
Sisque
Maurice Schutz
le grand père
Roger Legris
Bédouin
Raymond Aimos
Albert Musse
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Fernandel reportedly performed his own driving stunts, terrified, after the professional stand-in looked too competent.
The marathon race structure parodies 1930s French obsession with endurance sports as national character tests—Modeste fails upward through pure cowardice.
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